Home of the Grateful Dudes

 Rodger Phillips 

(one of the founding members)

Rodger plays the banjo, sings lead, backup and tenor and is the leader of the Grateful Dudes. Rodger Phillips is the founder, and leader of the Grateful Dudes. Rodger plays 5-string Banjo, Scruggs style, and sings the high tenor in the 'Dudes. 

Rodger joined a band called ‘Pacific Light Opry’in the early eighties. (Rodger met Scott Micale when Scott also joined the band.)  Barry Berkowitz was the originator, and was a bit put off when the band was billed at the Banjo Café in Santa Monica as the "PLO". Barry quickly changed the name of the band to   ‘High Strung’. Rodger was also involved with the LA Dogs band briefly.
 

In the late eighties, Rodger (and Scott) started playing at Vincenzo’s as ‘The Grateful Dudes’, and Rodger has been playing there ever since.

 Bill Bryson 

(Deceased long time member)

Bill plays bass, sings lead, back-up and tenor, and is the emcee for the Grateful Dudes. 

Bill Bryson plays bass, sings lead and tenor, and is the emcee for the Grateful Dudes. Bill has an impressive musical resume: A veteran musician with an impressive 30+ year career, Bill started playing in the 1960’s.

In the 1970’s, the Bluegrass Cardinals shuffled through countless lineups and proved a springboard for many bluegrass musicians, including fiddler, Dennis Fetchet; bassist, Bill Bryson, and mandolinist, Larry Stephenson. They recorded several albums in the late '70s and early '80s for the CMH label with these and a slew of other fine musicians as well as making several appearances on the Grand Ole Opry before settling with Sugar Hill Records for three albums between 1983-1986.

From 1977 to 1984, Bill played with the group, Country Gazette. He also played with the Dilliards along with Herb Pederson.

In 1985, Bill played in the Desert Rose Band with Herb Pederson on banjo and guitar; John Jorgenson on guitar; Jay Dee Maness on steel guitar; and Steve Duncan on drums.

In the 1990’s, Bill played with Bluegrass Etc along with Dennis Caplinger on vocals and fiddle; and John Moore on vocal, mandolin and guitar.

In 2003, Bill appeared in a television commercial for Cingular Wireless along with friends, Dennis Caplinger, Herb Pederson, Kenny Blackwell and Sarah Watkins which aired nationwide for several weeks. He also joined Leroy McNees in a group called Leroy Mack & Friends along with Chris Hillman, Herb Pederson and Gabe Witcher.

A talented songwriter, Bryson wrote several tunes for the Bluegrass Cardinals including "Riding on the L & N" and "Girl at the Crossroads," which was also covered by Larry Sparks and Jerry Garcia.

Although retired, Bill worked with the Grateful Dudes, the Laurel Canyon Ramblers, playing bass and singing with Chris Hillman and Herb Peterson, the Rice brothers, and other California and Nashville- based bluegrass performers, as well as The Brombies with George and Jo Ellen Doering and Pat Sauber or Rick Storey. Bill "went home to be with the Lord" on Sunday afternoon, April 30, 2017. 

 Dennis Fetchet 

(long time member)

Dennis plays the fiddle and mandolin and sings lead and back-up.

A disciple in the true bluegrass tradition, Dennis Fetchet has been playing violin since he was a child. After a brief time away from the violin to play baseball, he took it back up in 1970 as a teen but originally played the mandolin and guitar. He was influenced by The Dillards.
 

In 1978 joined Hoyt Axton's band  traveling the country and several world tours as well as recording with Hoyt. In 1994, Hoyt suffered a stroke and the band was dismantled. He has played as a studio back-up for such diverse artists as Tanya Tucker and Weird Al Yankovic He has also made several appearances at the Grand Old Opry, Farm Aid and bluegrass festivals all over the country. He can be read fiddling in the soundtrack of the Movie"Back to the Future III" with Michael J. Fox. [Just listen during the old time dance scene when Z.Z. Top are playing.] 

Dennis has played with several bluegrass bands over his career including The Wild Hickory Nuts, LA Fiddle Band, The Bluegrass Cardinals and the Southland Bluegrass Band.

Dennis is an original member of the group that began playing in the late 1980's in Disneyland's Bear Country as Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. In 1994, following the closure of the Golden Horseshoe Jamboree Show, Billy Hill and the HIllbillies were moved into the Golden Horseshoe Saloon where they performed their 10,000th show on February 6, 2003. Dennis also worked at the Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California with Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies. He left the band in April, 2019. Dennis only occasionally plays with the Grateful Dudes now, as time allows. 

 Herb Pedersen

Herb plays banjo and guitar and sings lead and back-up.

Herb Pedersen is a first class musician, guitarist, banjo player, and singer-songwriter who has played a variety of musical styles over the last 40 years including country, bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, folk, country rock and has worked with numerous musicsians in many different bands.

Pedersen oftens performs with Chris Hillman and both were once members of the Desert Rose Band. Pederson also fronted his own band, the Laurel Canyon Ramblers. Besides this, Pedersen has also worked with the following musicians and groups: Pine Valley Boys, Earl Scruggs, The Dilliards, Smokey Grass Boys, Old and in the Way, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Tony Rice, Dan Fogelberg, Stephen Stills, Linda Ronstadt, Kris Krisofferson, John Prine, Jackson Browne, John Denver, John Jorgenson and Leland Sklar, among others.

Among his recordings are 1976's Southwest on Epic Records, 1977's Sandman also on Epic Records and 1995's Lonesome Feeling on Sugar Hill Records. Herb occasionally plays with The Dudes when time allows. 

To be added soon!

 Over the years, there have been many Past Dudes & Sub-Dudes including:

Scott Micale [co-founder], 

Dave Dickey III, 

John Schlocker [RIP], 

Rob Carlson, 

Chris Hillman, 

Ross Landry, 

Jerry Kincaid, 

Ricky Woods, 

Dean Knight, 

Dick Fegy [RIP], 

Brantley Kearns, 

Darryl Boom, 

Bill Carter, 

Bob Applebaum, 

Andrew Poddock, 

Pat Sauber, 

Tom Sauber, 

Dave Richardson, 

Bill Peck, 

Kirk Wall, 

Duane Michaels, 

Bill Knoft, 

Tony Recuipdo, 

Walden Dahl, 

Leroy Mack, 

Phil Salazaar, 

Tom Corbett,

 Roland White, 

Eric White [RIP]

Roger Wicher.